Rest in the Krasnodar Territory is not necessarily living on the coast, in large resort towns like Sochi and Gelendzhik. A lot of interesting this region can offer tourists striving to unite with nature and knowledge of its pristine beauty. One of these places is Mezmay settlement, whose attractions are not modern water parks and man-made sculptures, but mountain rivers, stormy waterfalls and mountains.
Mezmai is the pearl of the Caucasus!
It's hard to believe that in the Krasnodar Territory, which is popular among tourists not for the first decade, there are still protected corners cut off from civilization. It will be useful to know if you are planning a vacation: Mezmay is not a city of entertainment and nightlife. There are no supermodern hotels and large shops. However, here, among the mountains and forests, you will see rare plants, century-old trees and enjoy the incredible atmosphere of the natural and quiet life that the locals live. Do not think that such a vacation will be boring, entertainment for tourists is still there, and the abundance of natural attractions will please even the most demanding guest.
Geographical location
In literal translation from the Adyghe "Mezmai" - this is the "garden of apples". Indeed, there are a lot of fruit trees here. In this delicious apples can be collected not only in the courtyards of local residents or gardens, but also in the forest or just on the street. A warm climate promotes the growth of all plants. In summer, medicinal herbs are harvested in these places and berries are harvested, and in autumn a rich harvest of fruits and vegetables is collected. Curiously, the locals often call their village a bearish corner. Indeed, in the surrounding forests and nowadays you can easily meet a bear. However, in the settlement wild animals rarely visit, but for a walk in its surroundings it is better to go with a guide in the tourist group. How to find a unique village? It's simple: your goal is Absheron district. Mezmay is located in the valley of the river called Kurdzips, surrounded by three mountain gorges.
The history of the settlement and our days
At the beginning of the XX century, at the confluence of the Kurdjips and Mezma rivers, a settlement for workers engaged in logging was organized. There was also a camp for prisoners working in correctional labor. Around the same time a narrow single-track railway was built. Today, only memories remain of those times, but, in spite of this, the distinctive feature of the settlement is mostly wooden buildings. Stone buildings in the whole village is easy to count on the fingers. Local people are engaged in agriculture - they grow cultivated plants and raise animals. Despite such a short and prosaic history, Guamka, Mezmay and all neighboring points on the map have the glory of special energy zones. Very often the village is called even "Russian Shambala". Mezmay is surrounded by three gorges: Guam, Verkhne-Kurdzhipsky and Mezmaisky, each of them is characterized by incredible beauty and an abundance of natural sights.
Horseback riding and hiking
What to do on vacation, if you have chosen a place of your residence settlement Mezmay? First of all, enjoy the silence, the abundance of greenery and incredibly clean and fresh air. Agree, all this very much is not enough for all the inhabitants of megacities. Walk along the quiet streets, take photos for memory, socialize with local people, whose hospitality is legendary. The best way to get to know the nature of the surrounding area is to go for a walk as part of a tour group on foot or on horseback. These are the most popular excursions for tourists, which you can learn about without leaving the village of Mezmay. The routes will please with their variety, choose the most interesting for you species - mountain gorges, forests or alpine meadows. Everything is here. If you do not know how to stay in the saddle, rest in the village of Mezmai is the best time to learn. There is no organized riding school, but horses are still one of the main means of transportation. And lessons of riding for tourists are ready to give almost any inhabitant of the village.
Mezmay: attractions of cosmic significance
The neighborhood of the village is considered an abnormal zone. One of the most interesting places here is the "cosmodrome". This is a giant funnel that gradually increases and continues to draw into its center trees and large fragments of rocks. Near this mysterious place there are two large caves. In the Guam Gorge there is also a "house of astronauts", and next to it there is a unique cave, from which flows a turbulent creek, divided into two cascades. At the highest point of the Guam Ridge, a television repeater is installed. It would seem that this is a miracle of engineering thought, and not a mysterious landmark. However, the inhabitants of the village claim that on church holidays and the full moon around this object one can observe with an unaided eye an unusual glow.
Prehistoric world
Do you want to see how this area looked at the dawn of civilizations? Mezmay attractions have a variety of, among them there are very ancient ones. Go to the southern part of the village, it is here that the relic tisosamshita grove begins. Go up, along the Curdjips river. Scientists have confirmed that some trees growing here are more than 2 thousand years old. The laid route passes by a spring with the water purified by silver. Here you can see the picturesque waterfall, which has the equally beautiful name of the mouth of the Dragon. And very soon you will see the most interesting - the parking of ancient people, and if you climb the rocks, you can appreciate the picturesque view of the valley from a small viewing platform. In the vicinity of Mezmaya there are also its dolmens, ancient stone blocks of ritual significance, whose age is about 5 thousand years.
Other places of interest and places of interest
No other excursions in the Krasnodar Territory will give you so many impressions as the exploration of the territory around such a village as Mezmay. Nature pleases here with its picturesqueness and diversity. Her real miracle is natural caves, many of which can be found in organized groups. The underground halls are striking with the beauty of stalactites and stalagmites. In many of them you can see underground lakes and streams. The most famous are the cave N. Isichenko and the Cave Monk. If you are resting in such a wonderful place as Mezmai, waterfalls are a must-see among other excursions. The settlement is surrounded by mountain rivers and streams, and there are a lot of water cascades here. There are among them stepped waterfalls, and water baths, and other hydrological sights.
Features of recreation in the village
Absheron district is a real edge of miracles, where different epochs and cultures are woven into a single tangle. How to get to rest in Mezmay? In fact, the greatest difficulty is to get to the village. There are no hotels here, but the locals are very hospitable and gladly accepting tourists to stay, as well as for a nominal fee organize a full meal in the best traditions of national cuisine.
Mezmay attractions are very diverse, but consider the specifics of this area when planning a trip. If you are weak physically, you can not live without a high level of comfort or do not like active rest, think about choosing another option. It is not recommended to choose this place as a holiday destination for older people or for families with young children. But lovers of outdoor activities here will certainly like it. Speleology, mountaineering, hiking, hunting, fishing, picking berries, mushrooms and herbs - choose entertainment for your taste. In addition, near the village there are two monasteries of Orthodox monasteries, and many come here to personally touch the shrines. This area attracts creative people, music and literature festivals are held annually in the vicinity of the village.
How to get into the lost world?
Do not be surprised if employees of travel agencies in your city have never heard of Mezmay. Attractions of this area are not always included in standard excursions around the Krasnodar Territory. It is most convenient to go by private car or arrange a transfer. Today there are two roads. One of them, more comfortable, starts from the village of Nizhny Novgorod, a landmark - a monument to the founding Cossacks. The road is covered with gravel, but despite this, in good weather you can drive here on almost any car.
Another option is the exit from the motorway Dakhovskaya - Lago-Naki. However, this road is in worse condition (the length of the emergency site is about 12 kilometers), and it is better to go there only if you are completely confident in your own car.
You can also come to the village of Mezmai by a single-track railway. However, the possibility of such a journey should be clarified on the fact of arrival, as on the rails sometimes the passenger train runs to the "cosmonaut's house".